down the gauntlet to Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith.

Ms Gordon, who issued the challenge during a a major lunchtime policy speech which unofficially launched the United Bermuda Party's General Election campaign, denied her call for the US presidential-style confrontation was a pre-election stunt.

She said: "It's not an election ploy -- it's a reality thing.'' And Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith was quick to pick up the challenge.

Ms Smith could not be reached for comment -- but a party spokesman said she would be "more than happy'' to take part in a showdown.

The spokesman added: "She is brimming with confidence at the outcome and can't wait to put the Government's record to the people.'' Ms Gordon admitted the UBP appeared to be having difficulty getting its message across.

She said: "What this is about is that this Government keeps getting criticised.

"People have said none of what we've done really touches the people or reaches out to them.'' But Ms Gordon insisted her Government had done a good job on balancing the "economic well-being of the Country and the social programmes''.

She said: "It's very easy to say we want social programmes -- but we have to pay for them.'' Ms Gordon added: "What I'm saying is, I'm quite prepared to debate the record of the United Bermuda Party, outlining the money we have been able to raise and the programmes we have used it for.

She insisted: "We cannot raise taxes on people who can ill-afford to pay or on people who already pay large taxes and have become philanthropists in our community.

"And we will challenge her with the cloth we have got and the programmes we have been able to implement.'' Ms Gordon was speaking minutes after making the challenge in a keynote lunchtime speech introducing her new "contract with the people'' to more than 500 people at St. Paul AME Centennial Hall on Hamilton's Court Street.

She said: "I don't know if this challenge will be accepted -- but I have great confidence in my ability to speak on the programmes of the UBP and the programmes of this country. You want to talk about the economy, I'll do it.'' Ms Gordon insisted: "This is not about whether Jennifer can look better or I can.

"This is about making sure the people in Bermuda understand what is available to them, how we raise funds and how we choose to do it.

"Government has a good record and I don't think we need to be defensive about it.

"I will argue that with anyone -- specifically the leader of the Opposition in this case.'' Ms Gordon used her 40-minute speech to defend her Government's record over the past 30 years -- and to announce new packages in social services and the war against crime.

More than 500 people packed the hall for the speech, which won the Premier a near-three minute standing ovation.

And she took the oppotunity to criticise the Progressive Labour Party, currently in its best position ever to seize power.

Ms Gordon said: "There are those who say of the Opposition `give them a chance, they can't do any harm'.

"The reality is they could do harm and they most certainly could not do any better.'' Ms Gordon added: "For 30 years their Budget responses and replies to the Throne Speeches have been a litany of complaints and generalisations, but they won't tell the people what their ideas will cost and who will pay for them.'' And she added: "Criticism is not a vision. Criticism is not a programme.'' Ms Gordon said: "Without our economic achievements and the UBP's careful guardianship, the social programmes and people's Budgets that we have tabled, year in and year out, would never have been possible.''